(1) Cybertruck sales projections were ridiculously overestimated. A mid-level exec at Toyota who did something similar would likely have been fired, but since this was apparently the decision of the Great Leader, there were no consequences.

(2) Full self-driving claims were overhyped and the technological decision to remove LIDAR was a big mistake, if we look at Waymo in comparison, and the long record of Tesla's failed claims on this one.

(3) The Great Leader dove into politics and thus alienated a large fraction of the customer base, while also not generating a new customer base. I see some similarities here to the Bud Light marketing debacle, in general.

Conclusion: companies selling products should really focus on creating good designs that meet people's needs above all else, and should implement internal democratic systems that can remove wild-eyed Great Leaders from decision-making positions before they take everything off the rails.

P.S. Why can't we just have a simple 1990s-style Toyata truck with an electric drive train and a robust battery with well-designed and tested firmware that doesn't need OTA updates and smart phone app and telemetry? I don't need an 'infotainment center' if I have a phone or tablet, either.

I would believe sales are down, consumers are looking for more affordable vehicles while Tesla prices have remained high, however I have never seen anything like what this article mentions in real life.